to expose to the air; give access to the open air; ventilate (often fol. by out): We air the bedrooms every day.
14.
to expose ostentatiously; bring to public notice; display: to air one's opinions; to air one's theories.
15.
to broadcast or televise.
–verb (used without object)
16.
to be exposed to the open air (often fol. by out): Open the window and let the room air out.
17.
to be broadcast or televised.
–adjective
18.
operating by means of air pressure or by acting upon air: an air drill; an air pump.
19.
of or pertaining to aircraft or to aviation: air industry.
20.
taking place in the air; aerial: air war.
—Idioms
21.
clear the air, to eliminate dissension, ambiguity, or tension from a discussion, situation, etc.: The staff meeting was intended to help clear the air.
22.
get the air, Informal.
a.
to be rejected, as by a lover.
b.
to be dismissed, as by an employer: He had worked only a few days when he got the air.
23.
give (someone) the air, Informal.
a.
to reject, as a lover: He was bitter because she gave him the air.
b.
to dismiss, as an employee.
24.
in the air, in circulation; current: There's a rumor in the air that we're moving to a new location.
25.
into thin air, completely out of sight or reach: He vanished into thin air.
26.
off the air,
a.
not broadcasting: The station goes off the air at midnight.
b.
not broadcast; out of operation as a broadcast: The program went off the air years ago.
c.
(of a computer) not in operation.
27.
on the air,
a.
in the act of broadcasting; being broadcast: The program will be going on the air in a few seconds.
b.
(of a computer) in operation.
28.
put on airs, to assume an affected or haughty manner: As their fortune increased, they began to put on airs.
29.
take the air,
a.
to go out-of-doors; take a short walk or ride.
b.
Slang. to leave, esp. hurriedly.
c.
to begin broadcasting.
30.
up in the air,
a.
Also, in the air.undecided or unsettled: The contract is still up in the air.
b.
Informal. angry; perturbed: There is no need to get up in the air over a simple mistake.
31.
walk or tread on air, to feel very happy; be elated.
[Origin: 1150–1200; ME eir < OF air < L āér- (acc. āerem) < Gk āer- (s. of ār) the lower atmosphere; conflated with (esp. for defs. 4 and 5) F air, OF aire nature, character < L ager field (cf. acre) and ārea threshing floor, clearing, area; and with (for def. 7) F air < It ariaaria]
A colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous mixture, mainly nitrogen (approximately 78 percent) and oxygen (approximately 21 percent) with lesser amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, neon, helium, and other gases.
This mixture with varying amounts of moisture and particulate matter, enveloping the earth; the atmosphere.
The sky; the firmament.
A giant void; nothingness: The money vanished into thin air.
Public utterance; vent: gave air to their grievances.
The electronic broadcast media: "often ridiculed . . . extremist groups on air"(Christian Science Monitor).
A melody or tune, especially in the soprano or tenor range.
A solo with or without accompaniment.
The sky; the firmament.
A giant void; nothingness: The money vanished into thin air.
Public utterance; vent: gave air to their grievances.
The electronic broadcast media: "often ridiculed . . . extremist groups on air"(Christian Science Monitor).
A melody or tune, especially in the soprano or tenor range.
A solo with or without accompaniment.
An atmospheric movement; a breeze or wind.
Aircraft: send troops to Europe by air.
Public utterance; vent: gave air to their grievances.
The electronic broadcast media: "often ridiculed . . . extremist groups on air"(Christian Science Monitor).
A melody or tune, especially in the soprano or tenor range.
A solo with or without accompaniment.
A peculiar or characteristic impression; an aura.
Personal bearing, appearance, or manner; mien.
airs An affected, often haughty pose; affectation. See Synonyms at affectation.
Music
A melody or tune, especially in the soprano or tenor range.
A solo with or without accompaniment.
Air conditioning.
Archaic Breath.
v.
aired, air·ing, airs
v.
tr.
To expose so that air can dry, cool, or freshen; ventilate.
To give vent to publicly: airing my pet peeves. See Synonyms at vent1.
To broadcast on television or radio: "The ad was submitted to CBS . . . which accepted and aired it"(New York).
v.
intr.
To be broadcast on television or radio: "tidbits that will air on tonight's 6 o'clock news"(Terry Ann Knopf).
adj.
Of or relating to the air or the movement of air: an air tube.
Existing or living in the air; aerial.
Powered by compressed air: an air horn.
Containing or inflated by air.
Of or relating to aircraft or aeronautics.
Of or relating to the broadcast or transmission of radio or television signals.
Imaginary or unreal: "The guy had just hit it big . . . after ten years of eating air sandwiches"(Jonathan Kellerman).
[Partly from Middle English air, gas, atmosphere (from Old French, from Latin āēr, from Greek; see wer-1 in Indo-European roots) and partly from French air, nature, quality, place of origin (from Latin ager, place, field; see agriculture, and Latin ārea, open space, threshing floor; see area). N., sense 9, from French air, tune, from Italian aria; see aria.]
c.1300, "invisible gases that make up the atmosphere," from O.Fr. air, from L. ærem (nom. ær), from Gk. aer (gen. æros) "air" (related to aenai "to blow, breathe"), of unknown origin, possibly from a base *awer- and thus related to aeirein "to raise" and arteria "windpipe, artery" (see aorta), on notion of "lifting, that which rises." In Homer mostly "thick air, mist;" later "air" as one of the four elements. Words for "air" in Indo-European languages tend to be associated with wind, brightness, sky. Replaced native lyft, luft (see loft). The verb meaning "to expose to open air" is first recorded 1530. Broadcasting sense (e.g. on the air) first recorded 1927. Air-conditioning first attested 1909, originally an industrial process; main modern use in residences and office buildings is from 1930s. Air-freshener first attested 1949. Air-tight "impervious to air" is from 1760; fig. sense of "incontrovertible" (of arguments, alabis, etc.) is from 1929. Airmail is from 1913; airport first attested 1919; Airhead "empty-headed person" first recorded 1972. Airily is from 1766. To give (someone) the air "dismiss" is from 1900.
"assumed manner, affected appearance," 1660 (esp. in phrase put on airs, 1781), perhaps via Fr. air, from L. ager "place, field" (see acre) on notion of "place of origin." Air in the sense of "manner, appearance" (e.g. an air of mystery) is attested in Eng. from 1596, an independent adoption of Fr. air, which had acquired this sense.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of; "air pollution"; "a smell of chemicals in the air"; "open a window and let in some air"; "I need some fresh air"
2.
the region above the ground; "her hand stopped in mid air"; "he threw the ball into the air"
3.
a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing; "an air of mystery"; "the house had a neglected air"; "an atmosphere of defeat pervaded the candidate's headquarters"; "the place had an aura of romance"
4.
a slight wind (usually refreshing); "the breeze was cooled by the lake"; "as he waited he could feel the air on his neck" [syn: breeze]
5.
the mass of air surrounding the Earth; "there was great heat as the comet entered the atmosphere"; "it was exposed to the air" [syn: atmosphere]
6.
once thought to be one of four elements composing the universe (Empedocles)
7.
a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence; "she was humming an air from Beethoven" [syn: tune]
8.
medium for radio and television broadcasting; "the program was on the air from 9 til midnight"; "the president used the airwaves to take his message to the people"
9.
travel via aircraft; "air travel involves too much waiting in airports"; "if you've time to spare go by air" [syn: air travel]
verb
1.
expose to fresh air; "aerate your old sneakers" [syn: air out]
2.
be broadcast; "This show will air Saturdays at 2 P.M."
3.
broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television; "We cannot air this X-rated song"
4.
make public; "She aired her opinions on welfare" [syn: publicize]
5.
expose to warm or heated air, so as to dry; "Air linen"
6.
expose to cool or cold air so as to cool or freshen; "air the old winter clothes"; "air out the smoke-filled rooms" [syn: vent]
airAudio Help (âr) Pronunciation Key
The colorless, odorless, tasteless mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth. Air consists of about 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen, with the remaining part made up mainly of argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, methane, and krypton in decreasing order of volume. Air also contains varying amounts of water vapor, particulate matter such as dust and soot, and chemical pollutants.
A colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous mixture, approximately 78 percent nitrogen and approximately 21 percent oxygen with
lesser amounts of argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, neon, helium, and other gases.
This mixture, with varying amounts of moisture and particulate matter, enveloping Earth; the
atmosphere.
Any of various respiratory gases. No longer in technical use.
Main Entry: air Pronunciation: 'a(&)r, 'e(&)r Function: noun : a mixture of invisible odorless tasteless sound-transmitting gases that is composed by
volume chiefly of 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, 0.9 percent argon, 0.03 percent carbon dioxide, varying amounts of water vapor, and minute amounts of rare gases (as helium), that surrounds
the earth with half its mass within four miles of the earth's surface, that has a pressure at sea level of about 14.7 pounds per square inch, and that has a density of 1.293 grams per liter at 0°C
and 760 mm pressure
The rate of interest, or growth rate, selected by an insurance company. The assumed interest rate is provided to determine the value of an annuity
contract and, therefore, the periodic income payment which can be provided to the annuitant. Combined with other factors such as the annuitant's age upon annuitization, spousal coverage options and the
type of annuity coverage chosen, the AIR determines the monthly payment the annuitant will receive.
Investopedia Commentary
In other words, the AIR is the minimum
interest rate that must be earned on investments in the policyholder's cash-value account in order to cover the insurance company's costs and expected profit margin. A larger AIR will result in a more
robust prediction for market returns for the insurance company as well as a greater monthly income payment for the annuitant.
AIRstandard A future infrared standard from IrDA. AIR will provide in-room multipoint to multipoint connectivity. AIR supports a data rate of 4 Mbps at a distance of 4 metres, and 250 Kbps at up to 8 metres. It is designed for cordless connections to multiple peripherals and meeting room collaboration applications. See also IrDA Data and IrDA Control (1999-10-14)
Bel Air South, MD (CDP, FIPS 5950) Location: 39.50403 N, 76.31810 W Population (1990): 26421 (10296 housing units) Area: 41.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Bel Air North, MD (CDP, FIPS 5825) Location: 39.55353 N, 76.37365 W Population (1990): 14880 (5116 housing units) Area: 42.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Air Force Academy, CO (CDP, FIPS 870) Location: 38.99045 N, 104.86014 W Population (1990): 9062 (1280 housing units) Area: 26.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Hill Air Force B, UT Zip code(s): 84056
Bel Air, MD (town, FIPS 5550) Location: 39.53460 N, 76.34691 W Population (1990): 8860 (3860 housing units) Area: 6.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 21014, 21015
Bon Air, VA (CDP, FIPS 8472) Location: 37.51980 N, 77.56906 W Population (1990): 16413 (6252 housing units) Area: 22.9 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 23235
Bon Air, AL (town, FIPS 8248) Location: 33.26132 N, 86.33805 W Population (1990): 91 (44 housing units) Area: 0.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Cresaptown-Bel Air, MD (CDP, FIPS 20530) Location: 39.58819 N, 78.85886 W Population (1990): 4586 (1847 housing units) Area: 19.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
A"["e]r*ate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. A["e]rated; p. pr. & vb. n. A["e]rating.] [Cf. F. a['e]rer. See Air, v. t.]1. To combine or charge with gas; usually with carbonic acid gas, formerly called fixed air. His sparkling sallies bubbled up as from a["e]rated natural fountains. --Carlyle. 2. To supply or impregnate with common air; as, to a["e]rate soil; to a["e]rate water. 3. (Physiol.) To expose to the chemical action of air; to oxygenate (the blood) by respiration; to arterialize. A["e]rated bread, bread raised by charging dough with carbonic acid gas, instead of generating the gas in the dough by fermentation.
A*["e]"ri*al\, a. [L. a["e]rius. See Air.]1. Of or pertaining to the air, or atmosphere; inhabiting or frequenting the air; produced by or found in the air; performed in the air; as, a["e]rial regions or currents. "A["e]rial spirits." --Milton. "A["e]rial voyages." --Darwin. 2. Consisting of air; resembling, or partaking of the nature of air. Hence: Unsubstantial; unreal. 3. Rising aloft in air; high; lofty; as, a["e]rial spires. 4. Growing, forming, or existing in the air, as opposed to growing or existing in earth or water, or underground; as, a["e]rial rootlets, a["e]rial plants. --Gray. 5. Light as air; ethereal. A["e]rial acid, carbonic acid. [Obs.] --Ure. A["e]rial perspective. See Perspective.
Air\ ([^a]r), n. [OE. air, eir, F. air, L. a["e]r, fr. Gr. 'ah`r, air, mist, for 'a[digamma]hr, fr. root 'a[digamma] to blow, breathe, probably akin to E. wind. In sense 10 the French has taking a meaning fr. It. aria atmosphere, air, fr. the same Latin word; and in senses 11, 12, 13 the French meaning is either fr. L. aria, or due to confusion with F. aire, in an older sense of origin, descent. Cf. A["e]ry, Debonair, Malaria, Wind.]1. The fluid which we breathe, and which surrounds the earth; the atmosphere. It is invisible, inodorous, insipid, transparent, compressible, elastic, and ponderable. Note: By the ancient philosophers, air was regarded as an element; but modern science has shown that it is essentially a mixture of oxygen and nitrogen, with a small amount of carbon dioxide, the average proportions being, by volume: oxygen, 20.96 per cent.; nitrogen, 79.00 per cent.; carbon dioxide, 0.04 per cent. These proportions are subject to a very slight variability. Air also always contains some vapor of water. 2. Symbolically: Something unsubstantial, light, or volatile. "Charm ache with air." --Shak. He was still all air and fire. [Air and fire being the finer and quicker elements as opposed to earth and water.] --Macaulay . 3. A particular state of the atmosphere, as respects heat, cold, moisture, etc., or as affecting the sensations; as, a smoky air, a damp air, the morning air, etc. 4. Any a["e]riform body; a gas; as, oxygen was formerly called vital air. [Obs.] 5. Air in motion; a light breeze; a gentle wind. Let vernal airs through trembling osiers play. --Pope. 6. Odoriferous or contaminated air. 7. That which surrounds and influences. The keen, the wholesome air of poverty. --Wordsworth. 8. Utterance abroad; publicity; vent. You gave it air before me. --Dryden. 9. Intelligence; information. [Obs.] --Bacon. 10. (Mus.) (a) A musical idea, or motive, rhythmically developed in consecutive single tones, so as to form a symmetrical and balanced whole, which may be sung by a single voice to the stanzas of a hymn or song, or even to plain prose, or played upon an instrument; a melody; a tune; an aria. (b) In harmonized chorals, psalmody, part songs, etc., the part which bears the tune or melody -- in modern harmony usually the upper part -- is sometimes called the air. 11. The peculiar look, appearance, and bearing of a person; mien; demeanor; as, the air of a youth; a heavy air; a lofty air. "His very air." --Shak. 12. Peculiar appearance; apparent character; semblance; manner; style. It was communicated with the air of a secret. --Pope. 12. pl. An artificial or affected manner; show of pride or vanity; haughtiness; as, it is said of a person, he puts on airs. --Thackeray. 14. (Paint.) (a) The representation or reproduction of the effect of the atmospheric medium through which every object in nature is viewed. --New Am. Cyc. (b) Carriage; attitude; action; movement; as, the head of that portrait has a good air. --Fairholt. 15. (Man.) The artificial motion or carriage of a horse. Note: Air is much used adjectively or as the first part of a compound term. In most cases it might be written indifferently, as a separate limiting word, or as the first element of the compound term, with or without the hyphen; as, air bladder, air-bladder, or airbladder; air cell, air-cell, or aircell; air-pump, or airpump. Air balloon. See Balloon. Air bath. (a) An apparatus for the application of air to the body. (b) An arrangement for drying substances in air of any desired temperature. Air castle. See Castle in the air, under Castle. Air compressor, a machine for compressing air to be used as a motive power. Air crossing, a passage for air in a mine. Air cushion, an air-tight cushion which can be inflated; also, a device for arresting motion without shock by confined air. Air fountain, a contrivance for producing a jet of water by the force of compressed air. Air furnace, a furnace which depends on a natural draft and not on blast. Air line, a straight line; a bee line. Hence Air-line, adj.; as, air-line road. Air lock (Hydr. Engin.), an intermediate chamber between the outer air and the compressed-air chamber of a pneumatic caisson. --Knight. Air port (Nav.), a scuttle or porthole in a ship to admit air. Air spring, a spring in which the elasticity of air is utilized. Air thermometer, a form of thermometer in which the contraction and expansion of air is made to measure changes of temperature. Air threads, gossamer. Air trap, a contrivance for shutting off foul air or gas from drains, sewers, etc.; a stench trap. Air trunk, a pipe or shaft for conducting foul or heated air from a room. Air valve, a valve to regulate the admission or egress of air; esp. a valve which opens inwardly in a steam boiler and allows air to enter. Air way, a passage for a current of air; as the air way of an air pump; an air way in a mine. In the air. (a) Prevalent without traceable origin or authority, as rumors. (b) Not in a fixed or stable position; unsettled. (c) (Mil.) Unsupported and liable to be turned or taken in flank; as, the army had its wing in the air. To take air, to be divulged; to be made public. To take the air, to go abroad; to walk or ride out.
Air\ ([^a]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aired ([^a]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Airing.] [See Air, n., and cf. A[eum]rate.]1. To expose to the air for the purpose of cooling, refreshing, or purifying; to ventilate; as, to air a room. It were good wisdom . . . that the jail were aired. --Bacon. Were you but riding forth to air yourself. --Shak. 2. To expose for the sake of public notice; to display ostentatiously; as, to air one's opinion. Airing a snowy hand and signet gem. --Tennyson. 3. To expose to heat, for the purpose of expelling dampness, or of warming; as, to air linen; to air liquors.
Air\ ([^a]r), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Aired ([^a]rd); p. pr. & vb. n. Airing.] [See Air, n., and cf. A[eum]rate.]1. To expose to the air for the purpose of cooling, refreshing, or purifying; to ventilate; as, to air a room. It were good wisdom . . . that the jail were aired. --Bacon. Were you but riding forth to air yourself. --Shak. 2. To expose for the sake of public notice; to display ostentatiously; as, to air one's opinion. Airing a snowy hand and signet gem. --Tennyson. 3. To expose to heat, for the purpose of expelling dampness, or of warming; as, to air linen; to air liquors.
A"ri*a\, n. [It., fr. L. a["e]r. See Air.] (Mus.) An air or song; a melody; a tune. Note: The Italian term is now mostly used for the more elaborate accompanied melodies sung by a single voice, in operas, oratorios, cantatas, anthems, etc., and not so much for simple airs or tunes.
Deb`o*nair"\, a. [OE. debonere, OF. de bon aire, debonaire, of good descent or lineage, excellent, debonair, F. d['e]bonnaire debonair; de of (L. de) + bon good (L. bonus) + aire. See Air, and Bounty, and cf. Bonair.] Characterized by courteousness, affability, or gentleness; of good appearance and manners; graceful; complaisant. Was never prince so meek and debonair. --Spenser.
Foun"tain\ (foun"t[i^]n), n. [F. fontaine, LL. fontana, fr. L. fons, fontis. See 2d Fount.]1. A spring of water issuing from the earth. 2. An artificially produced jet or stream of water; also, the structure or works in which such a jet or stream rises or flows; a basin built and constantly supplied with pure water for drinking and other useful purposes, or for ornament. 3. A reservoir or chamber to contain a liquid which can be conducted or drawn off as needed for use; as, the ink fountain in a printing press, etc. 4. The source from which anything proceeds, or from which anything is supplied continuously; origin; source. Judea, the fountain of the gospel. --Fuller. Author of all being, Fountain of light, thyself invisible. --Milton. Air fountain. See under Air. Fountain heead, primary source; original; first principle. --Young. Fountain inkstand, an inkstand having a continual supply of ink, as from elevated reservoir. Fountain lamp, a lamp fed with oil from an elevated reservoir. Fountain pen, a pen with a reservoir in the handle which furnishes a supply of ink. Fountain pump. (a) A structure for a fountain, having the form of a pump. (b) A portable garden pump which throws a jet, for watering plants, etc. Fountain shell (Zo["o]l.), the large West Indian conch shell (Strombus gigas). Fountain of youth, a mythical fountain whose waters were fabled to have the property of renewing youth.
Port\, n. [F. porte, L. porta, akin to portus; cf. AS. porte, fr. L. porta. See Port a harbor, and cf. Porte.]1. A passageway; an opening or entrance to an inclosed place; a gate; a door; a portal. [Archaic] Him I accuse The city ports by this hath entered. --Shak. Form their ivory port the cherubim Forth issuing. --Milton. 2. (Naut.) An opening in the side of a vessel; an embrasure through which cannon may be discharged; a porthole; also, the shutters which close such an opening. Her ports being within sixteen inches of the water. --Sir W. Raleigh. 3. (Mach.) A passageway in a machine, through which a fluid, as steam, water, etc., may pass, as from a valve to the interior of the cylinder of a steam engine; an opening in a valve seat, or valve face. Air port, Bridle port, etc. See under Air, Bridle, etc. Port bar (Naut.), a bar to secure the ports of a ship in a gale. Port lid (Naut.), a lid or hanging for closing the portholes of a vessel. Steam port, & Exhaust port (Steam Engine), the ports of the cylinder communicating with the valve or valves, for the entrance or exit of the steam, respectively.
Spring\, n. [AS. spring a fountain, a leap. See Spring, v. i.]1. A leap; a bound; a jump. The prisoner, with a spring, from prison broke. --Dryden. 2. A flying back; the resilience of a body recovering its former state by elasticity; as, the spring of a bow. 3. Elastic power or force. Heavens! what a spring was in his arm! --Dryden. 4. An elastic body of any kind, as steel, India rubber, tough wood, or compressed air, used for various mechanical purposes, as receiving and imparting power, diminishing concussion, regulating motion, measuring weight or other force. Note: The principal varieties of springs used in mechanisms are the spiral spring (Fig. a), the coil spring (Fig. b), the elliptic spring (Fig. c), the half-elliptic spring (Fig. d), the volute spring, the India-rubber spring, the atmospheric spring, etc. 5. Any source of supply; especially, the source from which a stream proceeds; as issue of water from the earth; a natural fountain. "All my springs are in thee." --Ps. lxxxvii. 7. "A secret spring of spiritual joy." --Bentley. "The sacred spring whence and honor streams." --Sir J. Davies. 6. Any active power; that by which action, or motion, is produced or propagated; cause; origin; motive. Our author shuns by vulgar springs to move The hero's glory, or the virgin's love. --Pope. 7. That which springs, or is originated, from a source; as: (a) A race; lineage. [Obs.] --Chapman. (b) A youth; a springal. [Obs.] --Spenser. (c) A shoot; a plant; a young tree; also, a grove of trees; woodland. [Obs.] --Spenser. Milton. 8. That which causes one to spring; specifically, a lively tune. [Obs.] --Beau. & Fl. 9. The season of the year when plants begin to vegetate and grow; the vernal season, usually comprehending the months of March, April, and May, in the middle latitudes north of the equator. "The green lap of the new-come spring." --Shak. Note: Spring of the astronomical year begins with the vernal equinox, about March 21st, and ends with the summer solstice, about June 21st. 10. The time of growth and progress; early portion; first stage. "The spring of the day." --1 Sam. ix. 26. O how this spring of love resembleth The uncertain glory of an April day. --Shak. 11. (Naut.) (a) A crack or fissure in a mast or yard, running obliquely or transversely. (b) A line led from a vessel's quarter to her cable so that by tightening or slacking it she can be made to lie in any desired position; a line led diagonally from the bow or stern of a vessel to some point upon the wharf to which she is moored. Air spring, Boiling spring, etc. See under Air, Boiling, etc. Spring back (Bookbinding), a back with a curved piece of thin sheet iron or of stiff pasteboard fastened to the inside, the effect of which is to make the leaves of a book thus bound (as a ledger or other account or blank book) spring up and lie flat. Spring balance, a contrivance for measuring weight or force by the elasticity of a spiral spring of steel. Spring beam, a beam that supports the side of a paddle box. See Paddle beam, under Paddle, n. Spring beauty. (a) (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Claytonia, delicate herbs with somewhat fleshy leaves and pretty blossoms, appearing in springtime. (b) (Zo["o]l.) A small, elegant American butterfly (Erora l[ae]ta) which appears in spring. The hind wings of the male are brown, bordered with deep blue; those of the female are mostly blue. Spring bed, a mattress, under bed, or bed bottom, in which springs, as of metal, are employed to give the required elasticity. Spring beetle (Zo["o]l.), a snapping beetle; an elater. Spring box, the box or barrel in a watch, or other piece of mechanism, in which the spring is contained. Spring fly (Zo["o]l.), a caddice fly; -- so called because it appears in the spring. Spring grass (Bot.), a vernal grass. See under Vernal. Spring gun, a firearm disharged by a spring, when this is trodden upon or is otherwise moved. Spring hook (Locomotive Engines), one of the hooks which fix the driving-wheel spring to the frame. Spring latch, a latch that fastens with a spring. Spring lock, a lock that fastens with a spring. Spring mattress, a spring bed. Spring of an arch (Arch.) See Springing line of an arch, under Springing. Spring of pork, the lower part of a fore quarter, which is divided from the neck, and has the leg and foot without the shoulder. [Obs.] --Nares. Sir, pray hand the spring of pork to me. --Gayton. Spring pin (Locomotive Engines), an iron rod fitted between the springs and the axle boxes, to sustain and regulate the pressure on the axles. Spring rye, a kind of rye sown in the spring; -- in distinction from winter rye, sown in autumn. Spring stay (Naut.), a preventer stay, to assist the regular one. --R. H. Dana, Jr. Spring tide, the tide which happens at, or soon after, the new and the full moon, and which rises higher than common tides. See Tide. Spring wagon, a wagon in which springs are interposed between the body and the axles to form elastic supports. Spring wheat, any kind of wheat sown in the spring; -- in distinction from winter wheat, which is sown in autumn.
Take\, v. t. [imp. Took; p. p. Takend; p. pr. & vb. n. Taking.] [Icel. taka; akin to Sw. taga, Dan. tage, Goth. t[=e]kan to touch; of uncertain origin.]1. In an active sense; To lay hold of; to seize with the hands, or otherwise; to grasp; to get into one's hold or possession; to procure; to seize and carry away; to convey. Hence, specifically: (a) To obtain possession of by force or artifice; to get the custody or control of; to reduce into subjection to one's power or will; to capture; to seize; to make prisoner; as, to take am army, a city, or a ship; also, to come upon or befall; to fasten on; to attack; to seize; -- said of a disease, misfortune, or the like. This man was taken of the Jews. --Acts xxiii. 27. Men in their loose, unguarded hours they take; Not that themselves are wise, but others weak. --Pope. They that come abroad after these showers are commonly taken with sickness. --Bacon. There he blasts the tree and takes the cattle And makes milch kine yield blood. --Shak. (b) To gain or secure the interest or affection of; to captivate; to engage; to interest; to charm. Neither let her take thee with her eyelids. --Prov. vi. 25. Cleombroutus was so taken with this prospect, that he had no patience. --Wake. I know not why, but there was a something in those half-seen features, -- a charm in the very shadow that hung over their imagined beauty, -- which took me more than all the outshining loveliness of her companions. --Moore. (c) To make selection of; to choose; also, to turn to; to
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r) the lower atmosphere; conflated with (esp. for defs. 4 and 5) F air, OF aire nature, character < L ager field (cf. acre) and ārea threshing floor, clearing, area; and with (for def. 7) F air < It aria aria